Charles Mann Biography & Awards

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Artist Info

Born

November 22, 1944 Welsh, LA

Biography

Charles Mann (born Charles Louis Dominique) is one of the superstars of swamp pop, the rock-influenced music of southeast Louisiana. Although little known outside of Louisiana's French Triangle, Mann has had several regional hits including "Keep Your Arms Around Me," "You're No Longer Mine," and "She's Walking Towards Me." His most successful songs have been covers of Neil Diamond's "Red, Red, Wine" in 1969 and Dire Strait's "Walk Of Life" in 1988. As a youngster, Mann spent hours singing along to the radio. In his early-teens, he joined a church choir. In 1960, he joined his first rock band, Rick and the Hound Dogs. Four years later, he joined a more-professional group, the Eltradoors. Brought to the attention of Lee Lavergne, a record producer and owner of the Lanor record label, Mann was signed to a recording contract. His debut single, "Keep Your Arms Around Me," became a regional hit. Mostly performing in the southeast Louisiana and southwest Texas area, between Baton Rouge and Beaumont, Mann continued to build a following for his energetic style of swamp pop. Inducted into the Louisiana Hall of Fame in 1990, Mann received a Louisiana Living Legend award in April 1998. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide